ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY
New Course Redesign
COURSE SYLLABUS: 2015-2016
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) is an eleventh
grade course designed for those students that display a higher level of interest and competence in
the field of history. Students should expect to be challenged in developing their analytical
thinking, reading, listening and writing skills. Students will develop an appreciation of the
complexity and diversity of history and that different views of history emerge as historians
interpret events with different perspectives. The capstone of the course will be the Advanced
Placement Examination, which will be administered in May 2016. This course is meant to be the
equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn students college credit. All students should
expect to spend an average of FIVE hours per week in reading and course preparation
(including weekends).
Further information may be obtained from The College Board at URL
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/3501.html
TEXTBOOK: Kennedy and Cohen. THE AMERICAN PAGEANT, 16th edition
In addition, there will be a number of supplementary readings and handouts included along with
the text.
ONLINE TEXTBOOK: The 16th edition will also have an on-line version. Students will be able
to keep their hardbound copy at home unless directed by the instructor AFTER tablets have been
issued. Instructions for students to log onto the online version will be given during the second
week of school.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
1 ½ inch binder, any color, used only for this class – bring daily!
10 tabs for binder, any style – labeled: Writing, Period 1 through Period 9, Writing
Spiral notebook, composition book, loose leaf paper – whatever you want to write
notes on (see below for note taking styles)
Pen for notes only – any color except purple; pencils for scantrons
Highlighter, any color and access to color pencils
CLASSROOM NOTEBOOK
A. The notebook must be brought to class every day.
B. Handouts, essays, maps and notes should be kept in sequential order in the notebook for
reference. (If using a spiral, the spiral should be inside the notebook)
C. This notebook is the property of the student and will NOT be collected. Each student
will develop his/her own method of note taking. Notes will be checked occasionally!
1. Notes for the first three chapters will be in any format or style.
2. Over the next few following chapters, all students will be taking notes in the
same format so that all have experience in various note-taking strategies.
3. If you have problems with note taking skills—PLEASE SEE ME. This skill is
ESSENTIAL to master in order to succeed at the AP level.
THE COURSE: Each week activities may include formal lecture, class seminars, group
activities and projects and document analysis – both textural and non-textural. Reading is a given
in a history course. Be sure to do the readings on time!!
Lecture, discussion, and reading information will be covered on tests at the end of every unit.
Not all of the information in the text will be covered in lecture, nor will all lecture/discussion
information be covered in the text. The student IS responsible for BOTH.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
 Students will be prepared for the Advanced Placement United States History Exam
 Students will be prepared for the EOC STAAR test
 Students will study selected historical themes and the context and significance of
select interpretive questions
 Students will be trained to analyze and interpret primary sources, including
documentary materials, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence of
historical events
 Students will learn how to approach history critically and be able to analyze and
evaluate competing sources of historical information
 Students will be able to express themselves with clarity and precision and know how
to cite sources and credit the phrases and ideas of others
 Students will practice test-taking skills, including how to successfully take timed
exams
 Students will learn to take effective notes from both printed materials and lectures
COURSE CONTENT: The APUSH course has been redesigned by College Board. It covers
a larger timeframe of history but has become more structured so that students and teachers
are better prepared for the course. US History has been broken down into 9 periods of time,
some of which overlap. The Periods are listed below:
Period 1:
1491 - 1607
5% of AP National Test
Period 2:
1607 – 1754
10%
Period 3:
1754 – 1800
12%
Period 4:
1800 – 1848
10%
Period 5:
1844 – 1877
13%
Period 6:
1865 - 1898
13%
Period 7:
1890 – 1945
17%
Period 8:
1945 – 1980
15%
Period 9:
1980 – Present
5%
HONOR CODE: All students have signed a copy of the CCISD Honor Code. Students
found in violation of the CCISD Secondary Honor Code will be removed from APUSH.
GRADING POLICY:
Nine Weeks Grades:
Semester Grades:
55% major exams, projects
40% weekly quizzes, chapter tests, homework
5% reading assignment
42.5% 1st 9 week’s grade
42.5% 2nd 9 week’s grade
15% semester exam
QUIZZES AND EXAMS: Lecture, discussion, and reading information will be covered on both
quizzes and exams. Not all of the information in the text will be covered in lecture, nor will all
lecture/discussion information be covered in the text. The student IS responsible for BOTH.
Expect one or more weekly in-class quizzes. Quizzes may be announced, or unannounced, at the
teacher’s discretion. Topics may include vocabulary, previous lecture content, or materials
extracted from assigned readings.
A multiple choice exam will follow each unit of study, and also at the end of each nine week
period. A comprehensive exam will be administered at the end of the semester. All exams will be
announced in advance.
STUDY GROUPS: I strongly encourage students to join/create study groups that meet on a
regular basis, particularly before unit tests. While I will do my best to prepare you for exams,
remember this is a college-level class and you will need to spend ample time preparing for
tests/essays. Students quite often benefit from each other’s thoughts and ideas as well. In the
past, the use of timelines, notes, and discussion topics have helped students to succeed in better
understanding the content of the course.
Another beneficial item to have is an APUSH Review Study Guide such as Princeton
Review, etc. The review guides are very beneficial for unit and semester exams as well.
PROJECTS: Each nine weeks will require a project or activity that will done outside of class.
Further information concerning the projects will be handed out to students at the beginning of
each nine weeks.
FILMS: Per CCISD policy, parental permission must be obtained to show pre-recorded video
media in class for any film rated above G. A list of films from which offerings may be selected is
included in this syllabus for parental consideration and approval. Typically, a handful of
selections will be chosen specifically to illustrate salient points or topics. Please note that if any
other video media are added, a district permission slip will be sent home in timely fashion for
parental review and approval prior to any showing of the material. Alternative assignments are
available to students for whom parental approval for the viewing of video media has not been
provided.
Video media that may be viewed entirely or in clips:
1776 - G
Armageddon – PG13
Blast from the Past – PG13
National Treasure – PG13
John Adams - G
Long, Long Trailer - G
Wizard of OZ - G
Films are a good basis for discussion.
TUTORIALS:
Tutorials are from 2:35 – 3:15 on Tuesday and Thursday. If you need help, please come by and
see me during that time. If, for any valid reason, that time does not work for you, please discuss it
with me to work out another arrangement.
LATE WORK: Late work will be graded in accordance to the CCISD Grading Policy.
School related absences do not give any student extra time to turn in assignments. Turn in
your assignment before you leave for an event – slide it under my door, give it to the
secretary up front, give it to a trusted friend. When a student is absent due to illness, any
missed work is due the next class day with no late penalty. When turning in an assignment
on a date later than the due date, student MUST indicate whether the assignment is late or
being turned in as a result of an absence. Students can do this by writing “late” or “absent”
at the top of the assignment.
ABSENCES/MAKE UP WORK: Students should first consult their syllabus and the assignment
schedule when absent to keep up with the readings. In addition, each student should have a
“study-buddy” they can check with for class handouts and assignments as well as lecture notes.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TEACHER:
 Support the concept of AP classes by teaching at that level
 Teach the strategies, skills, concepts and material needed to prepare students to
participate in AP courses and those skills necessary to be successful on the AP exam
 Be open to new ideas and new learning
 Be organized!
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS:
 Be familiar with the concept of AP classes and the AP exam (We will discuss this at
Open House)
 Encourage students to strive toward academic excellence
 Accept the study of advanced and diverse material
 Support the teacher
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT:
 Accept the challenge of higher academic standards
 Develop independent learning skills
 Seek academic assistance when necessary
 Accept the study of advanced and diverse material
 Manage time appropriately